Instructions for Authors

1. Introduction

The Duhok Medical Journal (DMJ) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal that publishes original research articles, review papers, case reports, and short communications in all fields of medicine and health sciences. The journal aims to promote high-quality research and facilitate scientific communication within the medical community locally and internationally.

Authors are encouraged to read the following instructions carefully before submitting their manuscripts to ensure compliance with the journal’s editorial and ethical requirements.

2. Scope of the Journal

The Duhok Medical Journal welcomes manuscripts from all areas of medicine, public health, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and related biomedical sciences. Manuscripts that demonstrate scientific rigor, originality, and relevance to clinical practice or public health are prioritized for publication.

3. Editorial Policies

All submissions undergo an initial editorial assessment for relevance, originality, and compliance with journal guidelines. Suitable manuscripts are then subjected to a double-blind peer-review process conducted by at least two independent reviewers. The editorial board reserves the right to make editorial changes that do not alter the scientific content of the manuscript.

The Duhok Medical Journal adheres to the ethical principles outlined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

4. Manuscript Categories

The journal accepts the following types of submissions:

  • Original Research Articles – Reports of new and significant findings.
  • Review Articles – Comprehensive overviews of specific topics.
  • Case Reports – Descriptions of unique or educational clinical cases.
  • Short Communications – Concise reports of preliminary or novel findings.
  • Letters to the Editor – Constructive comments or discussions on published articles.

5. Author Registration and Submission

Authors are required to register with the journal prior to manuscript submission.

  • If you are not yet registered, please click Register to create an author account.
  • If you are already registered, you may log in and begin the submission process.

Manuscript submission is completed through the journal’s five-step online submission process, which includes:

  1. Starting the submission.
  2. Uploading the manuscript and any supplementary materials.
  3. Entering metadata (title, authors, affiliations, keywords, and abstract).
  4. Uploading figures and tables.
  5. Confirming submission details and completing the process.

6. Manuscript Preparation

Authors should ensure that their manuscripts are prepared according to the Author Guidelines, which are available on the journal’s website. Manuscripts should be written in clear, concise English and formatted according to the journal’s structure and reference style.

Essential elements of a manuscript include:

  • Title page (with author names, affiliations, and contact information)
  • Abstract and keywords
  • Introduction
  • Materials and Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • References

Tables and figures should be submitted in high-quality format and appropriately labeled.

7. Ethical Considerations

All studies involving human participants or animals must include an ethics approval statement and informed consent (where applicable). Plagiarism, data fabrication, and duplicate publication are strictly prohibited.

Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest and list all sources of financial support or funding.

8. Peer Review and Decision Timeline

The Duhok Medical Journal maintains a transparent and efficient review process.

  • Acceptance Rate: 56%
  • Average Time from Submission to First Decision: 28 days
  • Average Time from Submission to Final Acceptance: 70–90 days

Following peer review, manuscripts may be accepted, rejected, or returned to authors for revision. Final decisions are made by the editorial board based on reviewer recommendations and the overall quality of the manuscript.

9. Copyright and Open Access Policy

The Duhok Medical Journal operates under an open-access publishing model, ensuring that all published articles are freely accessible to readers worldwide without subscription barriers.

Authors retain the copyright of their work and grant the journal a license to publish and distribute their article under the terms specified by the journal’s open-access policy.

10. Publication Fees

To support the open-access publication process and the cost of peer review, editorial management, and online hosting, the Duhok Medical Journal charges a publication fee of 250,000 Iraqi Dinars (IQD) per accepted article.

This fee is payable only after the manuscript has been accepted for publication and covers all expenses related to digital archiving, DOI assignment, and permanent online access. There are no submission fees or charges for rejected manuscripts.

11. Contact Information

For inquiries related to manuscript submission, technical issues, or editorial policies, please contact:

Editorial Office – Duhok Medical Journal
Email: [email protected]

Website: dmj.uod.ac